Monday, March 14, 2016

Bees 'n Blooms, Part 3

Indiana Heritage Quilt Show

Last week, my quilting buddy, Pam Buda, of Heartspun Quilts, and I taught 3 days of classes each at the IHQS show in Bloomington, IN. What a lovely bunch of quality quilters! We both enjoyed our classes and the endless assortment of delicious options for dinner each night in downtown Bloomington. Overall, a good work/play weekend.

Just to prove I was really working, here are few pictures of my ladies in action.

Pam and I visiting with Quilts 'n Bloom shop owner, Cathy Will. What a wonderful shop in Haubstadt, IN!

Working on Barn Raising using a KT Five & Dime ruler

30- Something from Layers of Love in brights and grays.

I love visiting different areas of the country and meeting quilters of all skill levels. Sandy Anderson and her friend, Barb, are very skilled quilters, but had some doubts about my method of "raw edge layering stuff". Despite this fact, they signed up for all 3 workshops!. I applaud their ability to seek out new things and think outside the box. By the end of the first day assembling her bright and beautiful 30-Something blocks, she and Barb were believers in Layered Patchwork! They were a delightful addition to all 3 days of classes and are now pro-active supporters of KT and my unique Layered Patchwork technique. Go forth and convert!

Love Nola's beautiful batik blocks - and the matching hair!

Claire was another skeptic who not only made wonderful batik 30-Something blocks,but signed up for the next days' class as well! Great job!

I had a minute or two to catch up on some binding while these ladies sewed up a storm!

Pigeon Forge, TN

We're traveling this week with grandaughter, Aleece, to A Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge, TN. She's delighted to be "working" with us over her Spring Break. The quilt show and classes run from Tuesday thru Saturday. Mine range from Mini Table Treats to 30-Something (above) to Clara's Raised Bed Garden using our KT Wedge template for faking curved piecing. I'd love to see you there! We won't be home until Monday, March 21st, so watch for the next blog post later that week. I'll have tons of pictures of our adventures in Tennessee!

KT Winner

The winner of last week's Bees 'n Blooms book and box of scraps is

Queen Bee

The third pair of projects in the Bees 'n Bloom book is based on a traditional quilt block called Queen Bee. It's a simple, pieced 16-patch with appliqued melon shapes in the corners. I sized the block to fit our KT Melon template to make a large lap quilt and pillow utilizing a Moda Jelly RollTM. The fun applique border is fused on for easy placement/stitching.

Queen Bee lap quilt

Queen Bee 18" Pillow cover

Comment to win the Bees 'n Blooms book and another box of scraps from several of the Bees 'n Blooms projects. I've decided giving away leftovers is the best solution to keeping my sewing room uncluttered, and I get to share with you - win, win!

Have made so many mini quilts from KT scraps lately. Would love to replenish my supply!Love that gal, Pam. Sorry I didn't get to come meet you when the two of you were not far from me a year or so ago.

Oh my goodness! I need more hours in the day to sew with your fabrics. This line may actually be my favorite! Thank you for sharing your talents with all of us. I can't wait to see you again. I'll be at the retreat in August at Missouri Star. You and Jenny make a great team.

I think it's part of being a quilter to learn new things may it be a new skill or a new tool. Sometimes you discover something you like and will use further other times it's just about checking something of the list. And I think we all always need some new fabrics:-)

I would so love for my sister and myself to be able to attend some great quilting classes or even a retreat, especially if you were teaching. Love your fabrics and I know those scraps would be put to good use and would blend right in with my past projects!

Bees 'n Bloom is the perfect name for fabric this time of the year ... LOL We have lost all our snow (amazing!!!) and the warmer weather has made me want to sort my stash, organize it and it would be a perfect opportunity to incorporate your box of scraps! Thanks for the chance to win ;-) Linda at Canends@Hotmail.com

I live here in Tennessee and will look you up at Quiltfest... I simply love your fabrics and patterns...and love scrap quilts...even though they take more time cutting them out I like the variety you get in the quilt... see ya soon!.. dale

I love the honey bee block but I have always done it with applique but the stack applique method would be a great, easy and fast way to do this block. I am trying to a string block every month this year so I will have a scrappy quilt at the end of the year. Love to have your box scraps.

The honeybee block is one of the first quilt blocks I ever made. I made a pillow with it, hand appliqued and hand quilted using gingham. That should tell you how long ago that was! I love your variation and your fabrics. Your quilts are so cozy and easy to live with.

LOVE the Queen Bee quilt and pillow. My melon ruler is in a box, on a boat somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. I love quilting, but hate moving. You are always a source of inspiration to me!

Eye of the Storm

Windmills on the Plains

KT Shining Stars

Piecing the Past

About Me

I'm a wife, mom, gramma and quilter - not necessarily in that order. My husband, Robert, and I have 6 grown children and 8 grandkids between us ranging from 4-14 years of age. Our busy lives are centered around our families, our business - Kansas Troubles Quilters - and our mutual love for all things old. Robert works with me at KTQ as chief printer, bookkeeper and general "make-the-designer-happy" guy while I design fabric for Moda and create simple, pieced, country quilts that are easy and fun to live with. In our spare time, we enjoy antique shopping, attending plays and hanging out at our little cabin. Right now, life is good and I've got the t-shirts to prove it!